Spring-wheel for vehicles.



J. F. & H. E. SIPE.

f SPRING WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNI: 21, 1009.

1 1 06008. Patented Aug. 4,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 THE MORRIS PETERS C04.PHOIULHI10.. WASHINUION. L

J. 1:". & H. E. SIPE.

SPRING WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNI; 21, 1909.

1,106,008. Patented Aug. 4,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1HE NORRS PErEHs cov. lnorc LITHD.. WASHINGTON. D c.

JOI-IN1 IE".` SPEANID `I-IAIlEtIEtY E. SIPE,` 0F NEWT` YORK, N. Y.

SPRING-WHEEL IFOR VEHICLES.

Specieation of Letters Patent;

Application filed;4 .T une 21, 1909. 1 Serial No. 503,276.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known that we,`Jo1-IN F. Sinn and HARRY E. SIPE, citizens of the United States,` and residents of New York; city, in the `county and State of New York, have invent` ed certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Wheels for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.`

The objects of our invention are to proi vide a `spring wheel for vehicles having great resilience and a great scope of spring action; to secure this extended scope of action by bringing into operation automatically different springs or series of springs at different times; to so construct and combine the springs as to require only a small movement or scope of action` `from the springs which are brought into play when the load or shock becomes heavy and which meet the hard shocks; to increase thedurability of the springs and the strength and safety ofthe device, by arranging most of the springs so that only a small movement thereof is required; to reduce the weight; of the springs and thus to secure economy; to

provide lighter springs for the initial load,`

and heavier springs for the heavier loads; to provide a greater resisting power for meeting the heavy loads and shocks thanit is possible to secure with springs `all of which are in operation under all loads or at all times; to provide a tread member which' is `strong and` `durable and zeilicient, and which can be easily attached to or `retrieved from the hub member; and generally to provide a wheel which is economical in con-` struction and durable, and whiclihas comfortable riding qualities.`

The inventionconsists firstin combining the hub member of the wheel with the tread member of the wheel by a plurality of series of springs placed between the two members, the springs being parallel with the axis of the wheel, each series of :springs being arranged partly on oneside of the `plane of the wheel and partly onthe other, and the springs of one series alternating with the springs of another series around the circumference of the wheel, the springs being so arranged that the springs of different series are brought into action at different times.

The invention also consists in providing one ormore series of springs which are connected with one of the members only and `which pass through openings inthe other member, whereby whenthe memberslhave moved to a certain extent or a certain amount relatively `to each other under fthe influence ofthe load or shock, the springs will be brought into operation, and `where several such series are employed, the series` will be brought into operation successively.

The invention also consists in combining with the hubmember and the tread member a series of double springs connecting the two members, eachlof the double springs consistiugof a lighter springand a heavier spring, one within the other, the lighter spring being` attached to one member and the heavier springbeing attached to the other, whereby the lighter spring` is first brought into operation,` and afterit has been extended or` compressed the heavier spring `is brought into operation.

The invention also consistsin providing an annular plate or ring `and connectingit Patented Aug. 4, `1914.

`with one of the members by a series of springs, and so arrangingor suspending the plate or ring by means` of these springs, that upon a certain increaseof load or shock the other `member will come into contact with the said plate or ring, `and the plate or ring will thus be brought into operation and will tend to support the increased load or resist the increased shock. In the best form of this invention the plate or ringis connected with the tread member and eneircles or surrounds the hub member, and the` springs which connect it with the tread member are connected at their outer ends with the tread member, and at their `inner `ends with the ring or plate, and are oppositely arranged or disposed some on oneside of the ring or plate, and some ontheother.

The invention also consists in making the different springs, or different series i of springs, of different degrees of strength or powers of resistance, so that the springs which arebrought into play later inpoint of time and under theheavier loads `or shocks, will `be the more powerful `and will offer greater resistance to the load or` shock than could besecured by springs which `are in operation all the time.

The invention also includes other features of constructionl and combinations of parts The details of the construction may be greately varied without departing fromthe scope ofthe invention. y

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichn Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the part of the wheel including a portion. `of the spoke, the felly, the tread member,

and two of the series of connecting springs.;

Fig. 2 is a similar cross-sectional viewon av dierent plane showing. anotherfseries'of springs; Fig. 3 is a similar cross-'sectional view onl another plane showing another series of springs, this |ligureshowmg only the.

lupperends of the side plates of the tread member;` Fig. t'is a side view of a portion ofthe ywheel,showingthe way inwhich the diderent series of springs are arranged around thev wheel 5' Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of'a form of double spring which may i on the outer periphery thereof, and with a" leather covering 4 outside' of the steel tire. The wooden p artl of the felly is made in secl tions, and between these sections are placed the steel tubes 5 running crosswise of the felly (see Fig. 2), thereby forming openings through the felly through which some of the supporting springsv or spring devices may extend.r The tubes 5 are provided with steel sockets 6 Aon each side, which are brazed to the steel tubes orfastened to the steel tubes in any other suitable manner. These sockets receive and holdA the ends of the sections of the wooden part of the `felly, as shown iny Fig. 4. In this manner the steel tubes, with their sockets, connect the different portions of the Afelly, and Iin eifect form -an integral part of vthe felly itself. Itis manifest that other methods might be adopted of `forming thesel openings through the 'felly through which someof the spring devices extend.

7 is the tread member of the wheel. This tread member consists of the following parts. 8 is 'an annular metal plate, preferably madefof steel; it is made with a thickened middle portion,-.as shown. We 'prefer to maker-the `plate in the form sho-wn in the drawings lin which the thickness of the same gradually increases from the sides to the middle portion.

9 is a layer of rubber compound placed on the outside of the 'plate 8 `and vulcanized to that'J plate. A y

10 is a wirewhich is laced through the plate 8 and its covering of rubber compound 9 in'any suitable manner to fastenA the two together. f This wire passes over the inner surface of the plate 8 for a certain distance,

then downv through the plate and, into the.

covering 9, and then through the covering 9 fo-r asuitable distance, and then up through the covering 9 'and the plate 8 again and over thesurfaceof theplate 8, and so on.

11 is a wire or wire support which passes circumferentially around `the wheel Aso asto aid in-binding the rubber layer 9 tothe plate 8.

shown, and passing circumferentially around the same. 1n the particularfcrm shown in the drawings these w1res`15 are placed between the layers 12 and the layers 18.

16, 16 are jvannular steel plates encircling vthe wheel and formingv the side walls ofthe tread member. These plates are fastened to the annular plate 8 by means of the angle" irons 17 which are bolted or yriveted to the to in any other lsuitable manner.r

`The hub member isfconnected with or sus-f pended in the tread 7member by three series of coiled springs. The rst series of coiledk springs is shown in Fig, being marked 18. These springs are fastened at their inner ends by any suitable means to the felly. As shown in Fig. 3, a screw-threaded .bolt `19 is passed through the felly. and is screwed into a screw-threaded socket 20. The bolt 19 is provided with ahead whichbears against rone side of the felly, and the socket 2O fits into arecess in the felly as shown. The bolt and the socket areprovided with eyes at their outer ends to receive the hooked ends of the springs 18.

12, 12 are. layers `of rubber and fabric which is made of rubber and vulcanized to the under- "lying portions of'rubberor rubber fabric. 15 are wires embedded in the tread, as

21 are 'bolts passing through the plates 16 l andpro-vided witheyes at .their inner ends to engage the outer hooked ends ,of the springs 18. The boltsf21` are secured in place i by the nuts 22 bearing against the outer surface of the plate-16.

. The secondseries of springs is shown inl the upper part of Fig. -1. These springs are double coiled springs consisting of the inner and lighter springs'` 23, and-the outer'y and heavier springs21. `The springs A28 are n placed within thesprings 211.Y

25 is a plate which bearsl against the outer end of the spring23; f

26 is a bolt provided with a head bearing y against the outer surface of the-plate 25,

fand passing `through the spring`28, and

provided with a hooked portion its inner end.

27 is a screwth`readed bolt provided with a head as shown to bear against the surface ofthe `telly, and adapted to pass through an opening inthe 'elly and `to be screwed l into a screw-threaded socket 28 which is also seated in a recess in the telly.

29 is a screw-threaded bolt adapted to be screwed into the socket 28 as shown. The bolts 27` and 29 are provided `with eyes at `their outer ends which engage with the spring 24 and the plate 3() may be secured together in any other suitable manner. The inner spring 23 is made much `lighter `than the outer spring, so that the inner spring will be compressed before the outei spring 24 is brought into action to any substantial extent. i

31 represents a third series of i coiled springs `which are fastened to the plate 16 at their outer ends by the bolts 32, which are provided with eyes at their inner ends,

and the nuts 33. The springs 31 are joined` together at their inner ends by a steel rod 34, which is provided at `its ends with eyes which engage with the inner hooked ends of the springs 31.` y The rod 34 passes through the steel tubes 5, which form a part of the felly. When thevehicle is unloaded, or when` it is operating under `a light load,

i the rod 34 is not in contact withthe steel tubes 5. When, however, the load is increased,:or the vehicle is subjected to a suili-` cient shock, the hub member moves downwardly between the walls 16 andthe tread member until the steel tube 5 comes in contact with or strikes the rod 34.` The Springs 31 are .then brought into action and assist in supporting the load and resisting the shock.`

35 is an annular steel plate or ring `which encircles the wheel surrounding the hub member and `between which` and the` hub member a considerable space is left as represented inFigs. 1 and 2. This `ring is con; nected with on suspended .trom the walls 16 of ithe hub member by the coiled `springs 36 which are made very heavy and very strongand `preferably with but few coils. These coiled springs are connected with the ring' 35 in any suitable way, as for example by a rod 37 passing through the ring and provided with eyes at its ends which engage with the inner hooked ends of the spring The outer ends of the springs 36 are fastened to the plates 16 by bolts 38 provided with eyes at their inner ends, and with nuts 39 at their outer `ends bearing against suitable washers 40 placed between thenuts and the plates 16, as shown in Fig. 1. In the case of a very heavy load or of an unusually severe shock, the hub member will move downwardly between the plates 1G and will strike the ring 35 and `the springs 3G will thus `be brought into action to help sustain the load andresist the shock.`

The four series of springs which have beendescribed, areall placed parallel to the axis zot the wheel and `are arranged on opposite `sides of the hub member, or the mid-` dle plane of the wheel, some of the springs being onone side of the plane of` the wheel, and the rest of the springs being on the other side, and the Springs extending outwardly in opposite directions from the inner to the outer member. The springs are all prefer-` ably arranged in pairs as shown.

The operation of the device is as follows:` 1 `Thesprlngs 18 are made of suchsize and strength as to support the vehicle body when there :is no load or when there is a minimum load. Then the load is increased,` or a shock is encountered, the hub member moves downwardly between the walls of the tread member, `and the inner springs 23 oi the series of double springs are next brought into action. As the load or shock increases these springs 23 are gradually compressed. Be- ;toiethese springs are entirely compressed,

however, tbe hubmember is moved downi wardly a `suilicient distance to bring; the steel tube`5 into contact with. the `rod 34,

and thus to bring the springs 31 into operal tion. As the loador shock increases beyond this point, the springs 23 are finally compressed to such an extent as to bring `into operation the outer springs 24 of the series of double springs. If theload or shock becomes still greater so that the hubmember moves downwardly enough to strike the ring'35, the springs 3G are then brought into action.` These springs 36 are made of such strength and resisting power as to offer greatresistance to the load or shock.

In Fig. 5 we have shown another formbf 1 double spring which may be substituted in place of that shown in Fig. 1. In this iorm the inner spring23 is made very light and is connected at the outer endv with the larger spring 24 by simply `hooking the end of the spring 23 over the spring 24 as shown at 41. The inner end of thespring 23 is wound around,` orzotherwise fastened to agrooved plate 42 connected Withthe inner end of the bolt 43, which bolt 43 passes through the plate 30 and is adapted to be hooked to the telly. The plate 42 acts as a stop. 'When this stop strikes the plate 30, owing to the downward movement of the hub member, the spring 24 is then broughtzinto operation. The inner spring 23 in this case may` be made so light that it will merely serve to draw the bolt 43 inwardly through the plate 30 when there is no load `or strain on this double spring, This will prevent the rat- A tling of the parts.

In Ifign 6 we form of double spring in which there isa bolt 44 provided with a hooked end adapted to be engagedwith the telly. rIhe bolt 44 is screw-threaded as shown,and there is a plug 45 with a screw-threaded opening adapted to be screwed on to thebolt 44 as shown. The outerend of the spring 23 bears against a collar or projectionontlie-end of the plug` 45. rlllie innerspringQS is oonfined between this collar and the Aplate 30.

The inner end of the plug 45 actsas a stop. l/Vhen Vthis inner Aend of the plug45 strikes the plate 80, the outer spring 24 will be brouglitinto operation. By adjusting the plug 45 on the bolt 44, the time at which, or

the` load or shock under which, the spring 24 can v.be brought into operation, can be changed or varied.

In the best 'forni ofour invention we make the springs ofthe dierent series of diterent strengths Yor powers of resistance. Thus the springs 18 are made ofsulicient strength to carry the body when there is no load or under a normal load.y The springs 31 are made somewhat stronger; The springs 24 are made still more powerful, and the springs 36 are made still stronger than the springs 24,

Many advantages are securedby the invention.

ing. By arranging the springs so that. they are brought into action .at dierent times,

the springs which are not in action all the,

timey have f av smaller range of movement. rIhey mayl therefore ,be made lighter in weight and with fewer coils.v The springs which do not come into action except under heavy loads or slioclrs,i`nay bemade exceed- -v v ingly strong and powerful, and yet they may be lighter in weight and with fewer coils than if they werein operation during the entire movement of the vtwo members relatively to each other. rIhe treadmember is simple, compact, and strong in its construction, and is readily adapted tobe attached to any lform ofhub member. 'Ihe tire is so constructed that creeping is avoided, and `the vtreadmember `proper isk held in ,positionv rinlywithout clamps or bolts.l

rlhe 'construction or' thewheel is simple and relatively economical, and it is' adapted have shown still anotheri The wheel has -great resiliency, and produces great ease and comfort yin rid-` then vthe being on `one side of the plane ofthe wheel In a spring wheel, the combination ot la hub member, a tread member, and several series of springs between the two members, the springs being set parallel to the axis of the wheel, some of the springs ofv each series being onone side of theplane oi'' the wheel, and the other springs of thatseries being on the other side of the plane of Vthe wheel, the. springs of tlie'several series being arranged around the wheel alternately, one or more series of springs v being attached to both members, and one or'more series being at-v tached to one of the members only, and arranged in such relation tothe other member as to be moved thereby and brought into op1 eration subsequently tothe other series of springs.

3. In a spring wheel, the combination of a hub member, a tread member, and several series of springs betweenlthe two members,

one series of springs being attached to both v' Amembers, and a secondseries of springs con-` nected with one of the members only and passing through. openings in the other memthe irst series, and a third series of, double springs, each double' spring consisting'of av vber so as to be brought into operation after Y lighter spring anda heavier spring,1 one within the other, the lighter spring being Vattached to one member and the heavier spring tothe other, whereby' the lighter spring :is first brought into operation and then. the heavier one, substantially as set forth.

4. In a spring wheel the combination of a hub member, a tread member and a series of double springs connecting the two members, each double springconsisting of ja: lighter springand a heavier spring one within the other yand varranged to act in "an endwise direction, the lighter spring being attached to one member and the heavier spring tothe other, whereby the lighter spring is first brought into operation and, heavier one, substantially as set forth; y

In a spring wheelthe combination ofV a liub member, a treadmember and a series i of double springs connecting the two members, each double spring consisting of. a

lighter spring and a heavier spring, one

within the other, thelighter spring being attached to one member and the heavier spring to the other, and means for adjustingy tlieI springs relatively to -each other,

whereby the lighterspring is first brought into operation and then `the heavier one, substantially as set forth. i

6. In a springwheel the combination of a hub member, a tread member and a series of double springs connecting the two members, each double spring` conslsting of a lighter spring and a heavier spring one within the other, the lighter spring being attached to one member and the heavier :spring `to the other, and an adjustable stop connected with one of the springs, whereby the lighter spring is first brought into operation `and then the heavier one, substantially as set forth.

7. In a spring wheel, the combination of a hub member', a tread member, and a plurality of springs between the two members connected at their inner ends tothe hub member and at their outer ends to the tread member and extending some in one direction and some in the opposite direction from the hub member, an annular ring, encircling the hub member, and Springs connecting the ring with the tread member, whereby the ring will come `into contact with `the hub member upon a certain increase of load or shock.`

8. In a spring wheel, the combination of a hub member, a tread member,` and a suit-` double springs connecting the: two mem-` bers, and set approximately parallel to the axis of the wheel, each double spring con-` sisting-,of a lighter spring `and a heavier spring `one within the other` arranged to act in an endwise direction, the `lighter' spring being attached to one member and the heavier springto the other, whereby the lighter spring is first brought into operation and then theheavier one, substantially `as set forth.

rality of springs between the two members connected `at their lnner ends to the hub member and at their outer ends to the tread 1 member, and extending some inone direction and some in the opposite direction from the hub member', and set ap roximately parallel to the axis of the wheel, an annular ring `encircling the hubmember, and springs connecting the ring with the tread member, whereby the ring will come into Contact with the hubmember upon a certain increase of load or shock.

1].. In a spring wheel, the combination of a hub member, a tread member, and several series of i coiled springs between the two members, one series of springs being attached to` both members, and a second series of springs connected with one of the members only and passingthrough openings in the other' member so as to be brought into operation after the first series, and a third series of double springs, each double spring consistingof a lighter spring andi a heavier spring, one within the v other,` the lighter spring being attached to one member and the heavier spring to the other, whereby the lighter spring is irst brought into operation andthen the heavier one, substantiallyas set v forth.

12. In a springwheel the `combination of a hub member', a tread member, and aseries of double coiled springs connecting` the two members, each double spring consisting of a lighter spring and a heavier springone within the other arranged to operate in an a In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to thlsspeelieation, m the presence of 1 two subscribing witnesses.

JOIIN F. SIPE. HARRY E. SIPE.

Witnesses:

EDWIN Snoer, Jol-1N O. GEMPLER.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for ve cents each, `by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, JJ; C. 

